A lovely, though sometimes foreign, reflection on mothers and daughters and the way we love and hurt each other. It had a dreamlike quality that reminA lovely, though sometimes foreign, reflection on mothers and daughters and the way we love and hurt each other. It had a dreamlike quality that reminded me at times of Isabel Allende or Marie Arana's "Cellophane," a book I adored. ...more

I couldn't put this one down. But, it's not for readers who are uncomfortable when familiar reality is suspended -- in this case for decades. It touchI couldn't put this one down. But, it's not for readers who are uncomfortable when familiar reality is suspended -- in this case for decades. It touches on politics, religion, feminism, science, Latin culture and the supernatural, sometimes all on a single page. A lovely yarn....more

Kathryn Harrison kept me turning pages in this, thanks to a deft use of suspense. I did anticipate one twist, and thought the wife's character was flaKathryn Harrison kept me turning pages in this, thanks to a deft use of suspense. I did anticipate one twist, and thought the wife's character was flat (though a refreshing contrast to the gaggingly reflective husband). But the pace and plot kept me interested. Not enough to stay up to read the last 50 pages, but close. I'll be looking for more of her books in the library. ...more

If you generate trash, you should read this book. If you recycle, you should still read it. Garbage Land posed a lot of questions for me/us. It doesn'If you generate trash, you should read this book. If you recycle, you should still read it. Garbage Land posed a lot of questions for me/us. It doesn't provide neat, simple answers, however. Consider it the beginning of a conversation we should all have with ourselves about stuff. (Nalgene bottles take a hit, interestingly.)...more

This is as good as I remembered. I rented the movie recently, and wanted to see how much it deviated from the play, which I remember from a high-schooThis is as good as I remembered. I rented the movie recently, and wanted to see how much it deviated from the play, which I remember from a high-school production. The answer is, not much. And, it's still relevant and will be anytime someone swims against the tide. Favorite quote: "You never pushed a noun against a verb except to blow up something. ...more

I've given away more copies of this book than any other. It might seem a weird choice for someone who's studied theology, but the thoughts about faithI've given away more copies of this book than any other. It might seem a weird choice for someone who's studied theology, but the thoughts about faith and experiences with the faithful ring truer to me than any textbook I've read. For real people in the real world. ...more

This book explains (or hazards reasoned guesses about) the laws of attraction in humans and other species in a way that's often laugh-aloud funny. It'This book explains (or hazards reasoned guesses about) the laws of attraction in humans and other species in a way that's often laugh-aloud funny. It's an interesting reflection on culture, morality and the sexes. ...more

Steven Pinker uses biology and science (including some fascinating specialties I'd never heard of, like cognitive neuroscience and evolutionary psychoSteven Pinker uses biology and science (including some fascinating specialties I'd never heard of, like cognitive neuroscience and evolutionary psychology) to explain why humans are the way they are, and how new scientific understandings challenge old understandings of the human brain as a blank slate, the human person as a noble savage and the understanding that the human soul is free from baser (biological) influences. Pinker also takes on a lot of cultural mores cemented on those understandings. His writing is clear and interesting. Being a professional word person, I especially appreciated his writing on language, one of his fields of expertise. I also liked that my reverence for the human mystery was intact when I finished the book. This volume has added more books to my wish list than any other. It's well worth the time commitment. ...more

Profound thoughts about life and death from a funeral director/poet. The servings are just the right size, and made me think. A measure of my regard fProfound thoughts about life and death from a funeral director/poet. The servings are just the right size, and made me think. A measure of my regard for this book is my disappointment over a friend's failure to return my marked-up copy. Then I realized I could read it again as if it were the first time, and got myself another copy....more

I gave up on this one, and I'm predisposed to like smart-alecks, science and the question of an afterlife. Roach lost me on page 114. I think I'd prefI gave up on this one, and I'm predisposed to like smart-alecks, science and the question of an afterlife. Roach lost me on page 114. I think I'd prefer her in smaller doses, say, magazine articles....more

This was nothing like what I expected. What it is: a sweeping book about colonialism, especially the British variety, culture and families. The story,This was nothing like what I expected. What it is: a sweeping book about colonialism, especially the British variety, culture and families. The story, which takes place in Ceylon, is exotic and the writing original and beautiful. It made me think about the Philippines, where I spent almost two years of my childhood, and the spread of American culture more generally. I'll come back to this one, and look for anything else by De Kretser....more

This book opens with the death of one of the twins. When I found myself looking forward to that event, I removed the bookmark and took it back to theThis book opens with the death of one of the twins. When I found myself looking forward to that event, I removed the bookmark and took it back to the library....more

I really liked this and couldn't wait to share it with gal pals and other loved ones. It's not the revealed Word, but it is revelatory and helps me toI really liked this and couldn't wait to share it with gal pals and other loved ones. It's not the revealed Word, but it is revelatory and helps me to understand scripture by enfleshing those stories and offering a historical context. In the end, it's still fiction. I can wrap my head around that notion well enough and enjoy it without feeling the need for apologetics or polemics....more

The best books are the ones that capture your imagination so completely that you forgo food and sleep and, occasionally, the rules of gravity. This isThe best books are the ones that capture your imagination so completely that you forgo food and sleep and, occasionally, the rules of gravity. This is one of those books. I devoured it. I loved it. I want more!...more

This was pretty good, but confusing, in a "Groundhog Day" sort of way, as the narrator character flashed back 30 years and tried to unravel old converThis was pretty good, but confusing, in a "Groundhog Day" sort of way, as the narrator character flashed back 30 years and tried to unravel old conversations and events. By the end, it was more annoying than anything else, and the end just petered out, like the author got tired of his characters and story and just ended things on page 231. I picked this up in lieu of The Diagnosis, the book by Lightman that I was looking for in the library stacks. Unless I see some super reviews of that, I might let him drop off my list....more

This was enjoyable, and McEwen has a skilled hand when it comes to suspense. I didn't foresee any turns of events. The post 9-11 view from Britain wasThis was enjoyable, and McEwen has a skilled hand when it comes to suspense. I didn't foresee any turns of events. The post 9-11 view from Britain was interesting. I'll read more by him, I'm sure....more

This was the first of three novels by Australians I read in a relatively short span, and by far the "biggest." It made me realize there's a whole contThis was the first of three novels by Australians I read in a relatively short span, and by far the "biggest." It made me realize there's a whole continent's worth of reading material out there, and I need to get cracking. "The Secret River" is an epic, and well told. It exposed me to a number of viewpoints that were new to me and made me think. ...more

Unlike anything else I've read, I liked the way it changed my perspective. I did find the alternating narrators jarring at first, but the characters aUnlike anything else I've read, I liked the way it changed my perspective. I did find the alternating narrators jarring at first, but the characters and plot grabbed me soon enough. I'll be looking for more of Carey's writing....more

Every time I read this, I find something new to love in it. I savor the final pages, reluctant to give up the "Owen Meany" experience. The charactersEvery time I read this, I find something new to love in it. I savor the final pages, reluctant to give up the "Owen Meany" experience. The characters are memorable, the story unforgettable. I've read a lot of Irving, but this is my favorite. It's also on my all-time, top-10 list....more

This wasn't what I expected, but was a nice period piece from a faraway land (Australia braced for a Japanese invasion in World War II). The insider vThis wasn't what I expected, but was a nice period piece from a faraway land (Australia braced for a Japanese invasion in World War II). The insider view of the Catholic church rang true, and the plot wasn't bad, either. ...more

I found this on the new-fiction shelf of the library, and am a better person for it. I painted houses to help pay for college, and was rather delighteI found this on the new-fiction shelf of the library, and am a better person for it. I painted houses to help pay for college, and was rather delighted to return to the state of reverie it offered, thanks to the character of Zeke. The plot of "Banishing Verona" is preposterous, but I bought into it anyway. I haven't been able to get through anything else by Livesey, though....more

This was highly recommended, but I found it impossibly overwritten. Our public library stamps its name on page 33 of books, and I usually give a bookThis was highly recommended, but I found it impossibly overwritten. Our public library stamps its name on page 33 of books, and I usually give a book that many pages to get my attention. I bailed out after fewer than a dozen pages of this one, though. It felt like Brown was trying too hard to impress me....more

What a weird experience this book was. What a weird experience this book was. It was on one of those best-of lists, and I brought it home dutifully anWhat a weird experience this book was. What a weird experience this book was. It was on one of those best-of lists, and I brought it home dutifully and read about 100 pages ... only to realize I'd tried to read it before, but just couldn't get into it. The problem was, it wasn't memorable enough to register on my consciousness, either positively or negatively. This is my literary "Groundhog Day."...more